Friday
July 23
FURTHER STUDY:
In relation to 1 Timothy 2:13-15 read
Patriarchs and Prophets,
pp. 46, 55-59;
Testimonies,
vol. 3, p. 484;
The Adventist Home,
pp. 99, 100, 211, 212, 215, 231.
How do you interpret 1 Timothy 2:13-15? Consider the
following suggestions:
These verses are obviously designed to
support Paul's counsel that the contentious women in Ephesus
should not usurp authority. His first argument is that "Adam
was formed first, then Eve" (verse 13, NIV). Women in the
Ephesian church should forsake their divisive attitudes because
Eve was not created with authority over Adam. Moreover, the
manner in which she was created demonstrated her equality
with Adam, not her superiority.
"Eve was created from a rib taken from the side of Adam,
signifying that she was not to control him as the head, nor
to be trampled under his feet as an inferior, but to stand
by his side as an equal, to be loved and protected by him."
—Patriarchs and Prophets,
p. 46.
Paul's second argument (verse 14) emphasizes that Eve,
not Adam, was the one deceived. Paul is not imputing de-
grees of guilt; he is simply pointing out the danger of men
and women's exercising total independence from each other.
Eve was deceived when she felt "she had sufficient wisdom
and strength to discern evil and to withstand
it."—Patriarchs
and Prophets,
p. 54. If she had remained close to her compan-
ion, she would not have been so vulnerable. Some women
in Ephesus were making an even greater mistake—assuming
their spiritual superiority and independence.
"But after Eve's sin, as she was first in the transgression,
the Lord told her that Adam should rule over her [Gen. 3:16].
She was to be in subjection to her husband, and this was a
part of the
curse."—Testimonies,
vol. 3, p. 484.
Scripture teaches that Christ redeems human relationships
from the curse of sin. Even though "the husband and father is
the head of the household," "woman should fill the position
which God originally designed for her, as her husband's equal."
She should "stand by his side, she faithful at her post of duty
and he at his."—The
Adventist Home,
pp. 211, 231. Moreover,
even though the curse continues to affect the childbearing of
women, the gift of salvation can be theirs on the same grounds
that it is available to all humanity (1 Timothy 2:15).
SUMMARY:
Christ wishes us to pray for all humanity because
He died for all. Although God has given men and women some
distinct roles, the gospel recognizes no superiority of one over
another.
33